Attraction
Art Institute of Chicago
The Art Institute of Chicago is a major encyclopaedic art museum on Michigan Avenue, with collections spanning thousands of years and a separate Modern Wing entrance…
Millennium Park
Millennium Park is a free public park in the Loop, home to Cloud Gate, the Crown Fountain, Frank Gehry's Jay Pritzker Pavilion and the Lurie Garden.
At a glance
- Type
- Urban park and public art
- Area
- The Loop, Chicago, United States
- Opening
- Open daily · 06:00–23:00
- Official site
- chicago.gov
Good to know
- Free entry
- Cloud Gate
- Crown Fountain
- Jay Pritzker Pavilion
- Lurie Garden
- Welcome Center
Why we recommend it
Millennium Park occupies the north-west corner of Grant Park, between Michigan Avenue, Randolph Street, Columbus Drive and Monroe Drive. It opened on 16 July 2004 and combines public art, landscape design and performance spaces in a compact, walkable area.
The best-known piece is Cloud Gate, Anish Kapoor's polished stainless steel sculpture on Grainger Plaza, which locals call "The Bean". Its mirrored surface reflects the skyline and the people walking around it, and it is a favourite photo stop. Nearby, Jaume Plensa's Crown Fountain consists of two glass-brick towers that display video images and spout water in the warmer months, which makes it a popular place for children on hot days.
Frank Gehry designed the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, an outdoor bandshell with a steel trellis stretching over the lawn. It is the home of the Grant Park Music Festival, and in summer the park hosts free concerts and other events, so check the programme if you are visiting in the warmer months. The BP Pedestrian Bridge and the Nichols Bridgeway lead out of the park to the east and south. For a quieter corner, the Lurie Garden is a 2.5-acre planting of perennials and prairie grasses by GGN, Piet Oudolf and Robert Israel, at its best from late spring to autumn. The McCormick Tribune Plaza and Ice Rink and Wrigley Square complete the main features.
The park is open daily from 6am to 11pm and entry is free. The Welcome Center is open from 9am to 5pm, and later on event nights. It suits everyone: families for the fountain and open space, couples for evening concerts, and first-time visitors for the photographs. An hour covers the highlights, but you can easily stay longer on a sunny day or during an event. Early morning is the best time to photograph Cloud Gate without crowds.
Getting there is simple. The Washington/Wabash "L" station, the Lake stop on the Red Line and the Washington stop on the Blue Line are all close, and several bus routes run along Michigan Avenue. The Nichols Bridgeway leads straight into the Modern Wing of the Art Institute, and the Chicago Riverwalk is a few blocks to the north.
Millennium Park FAQs
Is Millennium Park free?
Yes. Entry to the park is free.
What are the opening hours?
The park is open daily from 6am to 11pm.
Where is Cloud Gate?
Cloud Gate, known as The Bean, stands on Grainger Plaza inside Millennium Park.
When did the park open?
Millennium Park opened in July 2004.
Are there free concerts?
Yes. The Jay Pritzker Pavilion hosts the Grant Park Music Festival and other events, mainly in summer.
Is there a visitor centre?
Yes. The Welcome Center is open from 9am to 5pm, and later on event nights.
Is it good for children?
Yes. The Crown Fountain is popular with children in the warmer months, and there is plenty of open space.
How do you get there?
Use the Washington/Wabash L station, the Lake Red Line stop or the Washington Blue Line stop.
What is nearby?
The Art Institute of Chicago is next door, linked by the Nichols Bridgeway.